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  • Ten games to watch from the Sixers’ 2026-27 season, including the ‘Nova Knicks and LeBron James’ former teams

    Ten games to watch from the Sixers’ 2026-27 season, including the ‘Nova Knicks and LeBron James’ former teams

    The march toward the 2026-27 season has been unlike any other in 76ers history. In one offseason, the organization hired Mike Gansey as president of basketball operations, traded for Jaylen Brown, and signed LeBron James.

    That series of events has created quite a bit of excitement in Philly. Ticket prices were jacked up at Xfinity Mobile Arena. James murals went up all over town. And fans were riled up after a slimmed-down Joel Embiid arrived to informal workouts in midseason shape.

    That predated Thursday’s release of the Sixers’ full-season schedule. We’d been given a look at marquee games, including opening week and Christmas Day. Now with the full schedule in front of us, here are 10 games to watch from one of the more-anticipated Sixers seasons in recent memory:

    Five Sixers schedule release observations: Jaylen Brown’s return to Boston, big national TV presence, and more

    Season opener at New York (Oct. 20, NBC10)

    The NBA has leaned into this rivalry in recent years for several reasons. The ‘Nova Knicks have numerous Philly connections, and these franchises had failed to reach the mountaintop for decades. That finally changed for the Knicks in June after knocking off the Sixers in the Eastern Conference semifinals as part of their NBA championship run. Now the Sixers have formed a “Big Five″ and could turn the tide. A matchup on ring night and another on Oct. 30 could deliver an early postseason matchup.

    Home opener against Cleveland (Oct. 22, ESPN)

    Folks in Philly will get their first regular-season glimpse of the new-look Sixers as James faces one of his former teams. This meeting will have a little extra sauce after James considered the Cavaliers in free agency and did not pick home in his “final decision.” The Cavaliers have the continuity advantage after they doubled down on their roster with Donovan Mitchell signing a big extension and former Sixer James Harden expected to re-sign this summer.

    Tyrese Maxey (left), new teammate Jaylen Brown, and the Sixers will first face Boston on Nov. 10 at home.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Brown’s first game against Boston (Nov. 10, NBC10)

    There has been no love lost between Brown and the Celtics since he was traded to the Sixers on July 1. Brown still is coming to grips with the separation after spending the first 10 years of his career in Boston. Meanwhile, behind-the-scenes issues from his tenure there have started to emerge, as he and Jayson Tatum have carried on a cold war of sorts in the media and Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens struggles to explain the deal that netted an aging Paul George. Brown, fresh off his “favorite season” as the centerpiece in Boston, will need to learn to fit into a star-studded Sixers roster. But he’ll likely take center stage in this matchup.

    Embiid returns to Houston after last season’s appendicitis (Nov. 28)

    This game takes on significance for several reasons, chiefly Embiid’s return to Houston for the first time since he underwent an emergency appendectomy in April. That surgery was one in a long line of ill-timed Embiid injuries. Finally on a team with tangible title hopes, Embiid’s quest to stay healthy has never been more important.

    New LeBron James mural in Chinatown — featuring Billy Penn as Dwyane Wade — is about more than celebrating the Sixers star

    LeBron’s return to Los Angeles (Dec. 25, 6abc)

    Ownership weirdness aside, the Lakers still are one of the NBA’s cornerstone franchises. It’s the reason James chose them in 2018 when he last entertained changing teams. It’s the reason he made waves this summer when he declared his intention to leave the West Coast. Before that public divorce, the Lakers already appeared to be trending in another direction with Luka Dončić on a max deal, and Austin Reaves signed to another contract extension this offseason. Even at 41 years old, James will have extra motivation on Christmas Day in LA.

    Sixers’ second meeting with Miami (Jan. 8, ESPN)

    The Sixers’ and Miami Heat’s first matchup this season is Nov. 25. But with new rosters on both sides, they still will be figuring things out at that stage. This Jan. 8 meeting will be the real matchup. By then, James, Brown, and new Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo will have had time meshing with their new rosters and figuring out life in new cities. The East is a gauntlet, and these franchises are part of what has altered the conference.

    The Sixers will visit Giannis Antetokounmpo (right) and the Heat in January.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Brown returns to Boston (Jan. 21, Prime)

    Brown’s news conference was a sign he intends to put down real roots in Philly. He also connected with Boston and will hold a block party later this month to put a bow on his tenure there. Celtics fans had plenty of reasons to love Brown, who helped deliver a title in 2024 and was Finals MVP. But then Brown will have to flip the switch and remember that he now plays for the team he was “programmed to hate.”

    Game against OKC, McCain (Feb. 13, Prime)

    The Sixers’ seismic offseason started with one February transaction. Jared McCain was sent to the Thunder at the February trade deadline, which likely spelled the end of Daryl Morey’s time in town. His trade was considered the linchpin that led to Gansey being hired, the trade for Brown, and the signing of James. Still, McCain remains well-liked in Philly, and his Thunder will serve as a crucial test for the Sixers right before the All-Star break.

    Sixers will open NBA Cup play against Knicks, face Hawks on MLK Day as NBA schedule release continues

    Embiid faces Wemby, San Antonio (March 11, Prime)

    One of the best performances of Embiid’s career came against one of the best defenders in NBA history. Embiid scored 70 points against then-rookie Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 22, 2024. It also was one of the final times Embiid looked fully healthy. He suffered a meniscus injury about a week later and underwent left knee surgery. Embiid’s health will be critical for the Sixers’ title hopes. This should serve as a nice test for him right before the playoffs.

    Playoff tuneup against Golden State (March 31, ESPN)

    Speaking of tests, the Sixers by this point likely will start to wind down and load manage before the postseason. So against Golden State, another team James considered this summer, the Sixers will play a franchise with a championship pedigree even if it’s past its prime years.

  • Jaylen Brown’s Boston return, LeBron James’ tour, and more Sixers schedule observations

    Jaylen Brown’s Boston return, LeBron James’ tour, and more Sixers schedule observations

    The NBA released the rest of the 76ers’ regular-season schedule Thursday afternoon, rounding out a much-anticipated slate after the team added stars LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to become preseason championship contenders.

    Several marquee games were announced earlier this week, including the Sixers’ season opener (Oct. 20 at New York Knicks) and home opener (Oct. 22 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers); their holiday matchups on Christmas (at Los Angeles Lakers), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 18 at Atlanta Hawks), and Presidents Day (Feb. 15 at Dallas Mavericks); and their NBA Cup group play matchups (Oct. 30 vs. New York, Nov. 6 at Cleveland, Nov. 25 vs. Miami Heat, and Nov. 27 at Indiana Pacers).

    Here are the highlights from the remaining slate:

    Sixers will open NBA Cup play against Knicks, face Hawks on MLK Day as NBA schedule release continues

    Jaylen Brown’s Boston return

    The primary mystery still lingering entering Thursday was when All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown would make his return to Boston. That day will finally arrive Jan. 21 — unless one counts the Sixers’ preseason visit to TD Garden during which Brown, like many stars in those exhibitions, may not suit up.

    Brown played his first 10 NBA seasons with the Celtics, developing into a five-time All-Star, 2024 NBA champion, and Finals MVP before being shockingly traded to the Sixers last month.

    The Sixers will also play in Boston on March 7, a 1 p.m. game televised by ABC. The first Sixers-Celtics meeting will be Nov. 10 at Xfinity Mobile Arena, marking Paul George’s return to Philly after he was moved to Boston in that blockbuster deal. That November game also will be the first with stakes since their wild first-round playoff series, when the Sixers rallied from down three-games-to-one to win Game 7.

    Sixers Joel Embiid covers Lakers LeBron James in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers at Philadelphia 76ers NBA game at the Wells Fargo Center in Phila., Pa. on Fri., Dec. 9, 2022.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Hello again, LeBron

    The NBA had already placed James’ first game against the Lakers, for whom he had played the previous eight seasons, as a premier Christmas Day matchup. The all-time great also will return to Cleveland on Nov. 6 and March 1, and to Miami on Jan. 30 and April 8.

    James won NBA titles and MVP awards with the Cavaliers and Heat, and was considering both teams during his elongated free agency. Instead, James chose to sign a two-year contract with the Sixers in what he called his final playing-destination decision.

    One additional LeBron-related travel anecdote: The Sixers’ game at the Memphis Grizzlies is Feb. 3, after James said he is not the biggest fan of the hotel accommodations in that particular city. It is a single-game trip.

    Heading West

    Unsurprisingly, the Sixers’ two longest road trips of the season are primarily to the Western Conference.

    That Lakers showdown on Christmas begins a five-game trip, which continues against the Los Angeles Clippers (Dec. 27), Sacramento Kings (Dec. 29), Phoenix Suns (Dec. 30), and Milwaukee Bucks (Jan. 1).

    Sixers open season Oct. 20 at Knicks, face Cavaliers in Philly home debut for LeBron James, Jaylen Brown

    The Sixers also will head West four games in late March against the Utah Jazz (March 23), Golden State Warriors (March 24), Portland Trail Blazers (March 26), and Denver Nuggets (March 28). That finale in Denver is of note, considering former MVP Joel Embiid has not played in that city — and against former MVP-caliber center rival Nikola Jokic — since 2019.

    Beyond those jaunts, the Sixers’ longest road trip of the season is three games coming out of the All-Star break in February. And two of those are against the New York teams (at Brooklyn Nets Feb. 25, at Knicks Feb. 27) and won’t require travel in between.

    Noteworthy visits

    Here is when several big names and former Sixers will visit Philly (barring health):

    Oct. 25 and Feb. 5: Cade Cunningham (and Paul Reed and Isaiah Joe) with the Detroit Pistons

    Nov. 12 and March 15: Kawhi Leonard (presumably) with the Toronto Raptors

    Nov. 15 and Jan. 19: Kelly Oubre Jr. with the Indiana Pacers

    Dec. 2: Jokic with the Nuggets

    Dec. 23: Kevin Durant with the Houston Rockets

    Jan. 6: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (and Jared McCain) with the Oklahoma City Thunder

    Jared McCain (right) and the Thunder will visit Philly on Jan. 6.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    March 4: Luka Doncic (and Quentin Grimes) with the Lakers

    March 21: Victor Wembanyama (and Tobias Harris) with the San Antonio Spurs

    March 24: Stephen Curry (and, potentially, Jimmy Butler) with the Warriors

    Other nuggets

    • The Sixers have 34 nationally televised games, a franchise record and the maximum allowed for a single team. That further embodies the immense attention on a star-studded roster. Ten of those are on Amazon Prime Video, while eight apiece are on ESPN and NBC/Peacock, five are on ABC, and three are on Peacock/NBC Sports Network.
    • The Sixers will play 13 back-to-backs, down from 16 last season. Managing those will be crucial to maintaining the health of James and Embiid, who previously said on the record that he may never play in both games of such a set again. The Sixers’ strangest back-to-back: Indiana to Houston over Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 27 and 28).
    • Nine of the Sixers’ 16 January games will be at home, the most in a month during the season. Matchups against the Washington Wizards (Jan. 12), Nets (Jan. 14), Clippers (Jan. 25), and Sacramento Kings (Jan. 27) — who are all expected to finish near the bottom of the standings — are part of that stretch.
    • Their final four games — vs. Atlanta, at Toronto, at Miami, vs. Charlotte — could go a long way in determining postseason seeding and exemplifies the newfound depth of the Eastern Conference.
  • Record-breaking ticket prices, player reactions and more buzz surrounding the Sixers-Knicks season opener

    Record-breaking ticket prices, player reactions and more buzz surrounding the Sixers-Knicks season opener

    An advisory warning to 76ers fans: Don’t expect tickets to the Sixers’ season opener if you’re not ready to pay big money.

    The NBA announced Tuesday that the Sixers will play the New York Knicks on Oct. 20 as part of league’s triple-header to open the season.

    And if the buzz around the Sixers wasn’t big enough already with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown making their debuts, the matchup against the defending champion Knicks at Madison Square Garden certainly adds some allure.

    After being swept by New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Sixers watch the Knicks raise their first championship banner in 53 years.

    And tickets are set to break NBA records, with third-party sites showing get-in prices for nearly $2,000. If that number stands, the game would be the most expensive NBA home opener ever.

    Here’s what social media is saying about the matchup, ticket prices, James and Brown’s Philly debuts, and more …

    The hottest ticket in town

    There are several reasons this opener is a hot ticket. The combination of it being championship ring night for the Knicks, James and Brown’s first game as Sixers, and a rematch between an already bitter rivalry are driving prices up.

    However, tickets haven’t yet gone on sale from the teams’ primary box offices. Prices being shared online are from resellers and secondary markets.

    Still, many fans are outraged and worried about what this means for tickets for the rest of the season.

    Even the team’s home opener at Xfinity Mobile Arena against James’ first team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Oct. 22, has high prices due to increased demand.

    New and improved

    On July 1, it seemed like the trade that delivered Brown would be the Sixers’ marquee event of the offseason. That was until James signed with the Sixers a few weeks later.

    So naturally, their first game in a Sixers jersey will cause a stir, as fans finally get to see Mike Gansey’s offseason moves step onto the court.

    And again, the matchup only adds to the excitement of it all, as the Sixers seek revenge in New York with a new — and what’s expected to be an improved — team.

    While NBA fans will have to wait a little longer to find out when Brown will face his former team in the regular season, the Sixers will see the Boston Celtics in preseason games on Oct. 10 and 16. As for James, there is a Christmas Day game to look forward to against the Lakers. But not only will James be facing old teammates, he’ll also be facing his son.

    James will have to deal with the Knicks first, which usually makes for a good matchup. But now Sixers fans are expecting it to be even better.

    Even Knicks shooting guard and Villanova alum Josh Hart weighed in with his reaction to the match up.

    But he wasn’t the only star that’s been mentioning the Sixers lately. During her stop in Philly, Hilary Duff compared her tour route to James’ career, with stops in Florida and Los Angeles before heading to Philly.

    ‘The team to beat’

    While Hart shared his reaction on X, fellow New York Knick and Villanova teammate Jalen Brunson spoke on the third-hour of the Today Show.

    When host Craig Melvin called the Sixers “the team to beat in the East,” Brunson didn’t try to dispute it.

    “I mean, rightfully so,” Brunson said. “They have a lot of firepower. But we’re going to focus on what we’ve got to do, and we’ll see what happens.”

    When Melvin asked Brunson’s thoughts on the opening night matchup, Brunson said he thinks the game will be “fireworks for sure.”

    “They’re going to be electric, they’re going to be definitely a team to keep your eye on,” Brunson said. “They reloaded this year, so it’s going to be a tough test, but we’ll be ready.”

  • Sixers open season Oct. 20 at Knicks, face Cavaliers in Philly home debut for LeBron James, Jaylen Brown

    Sixers open season Oct. 20 at Knicks, face Cavaliers in Philly home debut for LeBron James, Jaylen Brown

    The 76ers will be one of the NBA’s highest-profile teams this season after adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to a roster that already included Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

    And they’re being treated as such as the league announces its schedule. That started with the opening week slate and marquee meetings on Tuesday, including opening night and Christmas Day. The Sixers will travel to face the Knicks in the season-opener on Oct. 20, returning home two nights later to host the Cavaliers in the home Philly debut for James and Brown.

    The Sixers will reportedly play in 30 national TV games in the 2026-27 regular season, starting on opening night against the defending champion Knicks.

    The marquee matchups keep coming on Christmas Day as the Sixers are slated to face a Los Angeles Lakers team James decided to leave this offseason.

    The matchup against the Knicks speaks to the outsized expectations for this new iteration of the Sixers. While the Sixers and Knicks have shared recent history, including a 2026 second-round sweep as the Knicks marched to a title, New York has gotten the better of that rivalry. But the Sixers have since fired former president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and hired Mike Gansey, traded for Brown and signed James to a two-year, $8 million deal. They also added depth in the offseason, with Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Labaron Philon Jr. all figured to feature heavily in the rotation.

    The prominent scheduling of the matchup against the Lakers was almost a foregone conclusion. Christmas Day, which some consider the unofficial open of the NBA season, is as good a day as any. James decided to leave Los Angeles as the franchise prioritized younger players in the offseason, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both playing on max deals.

    Record-breaking ticket prices, player reactions and more buzz surrounding the Sixers-Knicks season opener

    More games against rivals come early as the Sixers will see the Boston Celtics twice in the NBA preseason. That means we will get an early preview of Brown against his former team and running mate Jayson Tatum in some form, with the real games coming later. The Sixers’ three preseason games will be played at the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 8 and in a back-to-back against the Celtics on Oct. 10 and 16.

    James spent the previous eight seasons as a member of the Lakers, delivering a title in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He kept the Lakers in contention for the rest of his tenure, including last season when he averaged 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in his 23rd season. James also served as the offensive engine in the postseason at age 41, delivering a surprising first-round defeat of the Houston Rockets with Doncic and Reaves dealing with injuries. The 2025 champion Thunder ended the Lakers’ run in the second round.

    Brown played his entire 10-year career with the Celtics, winning Eastern Conference finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP as he helped lead the franchise to a title in 2024. An All-NBA performer in 2025-26, Brown is fresh off one of his best individual seasons. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists as the Celtics outperformed expectations and landed the second seed before falling in seven games to Embiid, Maxey and the Sixers.

    James and Brown will join a Sixers franchise big on talent. Maxey has blossomed into an All-NBA performer, Embiid is a former MVP and Edgecombe finished third in a competitive Rookie of the Year race last season.

    The Sixers’ opening night matchup against the Knicks is part of a tripleheader that starts with a matchup between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, followed by Sixers-Knicks and Spurs-Thunder. The week continues with Oct. 21 meetings between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat, followed by a meeting between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. The next night, which is headlined by Sixers-Cavs, will also feature the Thunder against the Denver Nuggets.

    Christmas Day, the league’s vaunted quintet of games will start at noon with an NBA Finals rematch between the Knicks and Spurs and run deep into the night, with the final showing, a West Coast game between the Nuggets and Warriors, kicking off at 10:30 p.m. ET. Heat-Celtics, Sixers-Lakers and Thunder-Timberwolves will fit in between those games.

    Inquirer Sixers beat reporter Gina Mizell contributed to this report.

  • Rich Paul tees off, Jaylen Brown shows love, and more from Tyrese Maxey Friends & Family Weekend

    Rich Paul tees off, Jaylen Brown shows love, and more from Tyrese Maxey Friends & Family Weekend

    Tyrese Maxey is from Texas, but he has made Philadelphia his new home. Each year, the point guard hopes to give back to the community that has watched him “become a man.”

    “I grew up here,” said Maxey, who’s entering his seventh season with the 76ers. “My daughter [3-month-old Marvel] is going to grow up here. … And I appreciate all the love and support that the Philly people, the Philly fans, the Philly community has [given] to me — and not just for myself, but my foundation as well, my family. They’ve really gotten behind what we’re trying to do here, and I’m nothing but grateful for it.”

    Tyrese Maxey becomes Spider-Man in artwork gifted to him by a Florida man

    One way he’s fulfilling his mission of giving back and leading by example is through the Tyrese Maxey Friends & Family Weekend. The three-day event features a Night of Giving dinner, a celebrity golf tournament, and a 1% Skills basketball camp, with proceeds benefiting the Tyrese Maxey Foundation and its mission to strengthen families and communities.

    Here’s a look behind the scenes at the third annual weekend:

    Night of Giving

    At the Vie by Cescaphe venue on Broad Street, basketball-themed centerpieces lined the tables, a mural of Maxey with the words “1% Better Every Day” decorated the left wall, and the two-time All-Star stood with new Sixer Jaylen Brown.

    Brown stopped by Maxey’s Night of Giving dinner after his introductory news conference at the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center and throwing out the first pitch at the Phillies game earlier that day.

    “JB did say a lot of things in his presser that meant a lot to our team already,” Maxey said. “We talk a lot already, that’s like unheard of, you know what I’m saying, for a group of guys who haven’t really met together at one time. Talking, joking around in the group chat, talking about him skydiving. That’s all fun and games and I think the camaraderie is there. … And like I said, we have a lot of guys who like to do this community stuff as well. That’s a big thing. It’s going to be a big thing for our community in Philadelphia.”

    Tyrese Maxey defends one of the many kids who attended his 1% Skills Camp last weekend.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    The Night of Giving dinner featured a silent auction that included items like a signed Joel Embiid jersey, a custom Tyrese Maxey rug, signed Mike Tyson boxing gloves, and a signed Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum jersey. Maxey said the dinner was the perfect way to kick-start a weekend devoted to giving back to the community.

    “I think [the Night of Giving] is extremely special because you can do a lot of fellowship here, do a lot of talking, do a lot of networking,” Maxey said. “And then it’s like all of us coming together. Everybody in this room is a piece of making the foundation special. And a piece of making this community special. And that’s something that we really do appreciate.”

    Mike Gansey still has to ‘pinch myself a little bit’ after landing LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in stunning Sixers overhaul

    Celebrity golf tournament

    Fans drove past the first hole of The Union League Golf Club at Torresdale and yelled out to Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul as Maxey and LeBron James’ agent practiced his swing before teeing off at the celebrity tournament.

    “Only in Philly,” Paul responded as he proceeded to take his first swing of the day.

    Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, another new Sixer represented by Klutch Sports, followed with a swing of his own, slicing the ball to the left of the fairway.

    Also among the more than 70 participants at the third annual tournament were Brandon Graham, Justin Edwards, Labaron Philon Jr., Dominick Barlow, and Jabari Walker. Brown was also in attendance after making an appearance at Eagles training camp earlier in the day.

    “He showed up to the Night of Giving, he showed up to the golf tournament,” Maxey said. “I said, ‘Look man, anything you want to do, let me know. I’ve been here for the last seven years so whatever you want to do, I’m pretty sure I have some type of connection with my team, the foundation. And we’re going to get it done.’

    “That makes me even more happy that somebody wants to come right in and he’s done the whole city tour, I feel like. He’s been everywhere. … That’s just love, man. I think the city is going to be glad to have him.”

    Since Maxey was drafted by the Sixers in 2020, he has remained a pillar in the community — giving back to the community through the Maxey Friends & Family Weekend, his annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, awarding scholarships and hosting school supply drives through his foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2021 with a mission to give the youth skills to become the next generation of leaders in the community.

    Tyrese Maxey interacts with the kids attending his 1% Skills Camp at Penn Charter on Saturday.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    1% Skills Camp

    As Maxey prepared for 1% Skills Camp, a free youth basketball camp for kids ages 7-12, one of the kids asked him, “How much younger are you than LeBron?”

    Maxey responded, “probably like 30 years.”

    The William A. Graham Athletics & Wellness Center at Penn Charter had more than 200 kids participating in drills and competitions led by Maxey and local coaches.

    “Honestly, the biggest thing is just the love and the support,” Maxey said. “ … I always talk about getting 1 percent better not just in basketball but with life in general.”

    Since becoming a father, Maxey has a new perspective on the 1% Skills Camp.

    “It just makes me want to be more involved,” Maxey said. “Especially going through the experiences of a three-month-old. I’m just grateful. Grateful to be a father. Grateful to be someone who can protect her, watch her grow up, and try to be a loving person in her life.”

    Giving back means ‘everything’ to Labaron Philon Jr. — and it gave Sunrise’s campers a day to remember

    After the camp, Maxey said he planned on competing in a pickup game with some of the camp directors — a task that was going to be a little difficult after a full day of golfing.

    “I took like three, four holes off to go check on Marvel, it was getting too hot for me,” Maxey said. “I’m more of a front-nine, back-nine guy. But 18 — I’m feeling it today, honestly. I’m old now. I’m 25, got to get to stretching a little bit and do a little foam rolling, maybe. Can’t just roll out of bed and go dunk anymore. No, I’m just playing.”

  • Expect LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to be the calm to the storm that often can be the Sixers

    Expect LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to be the calm to the storm that often can be the Sixers

    Nobody throws a premature party like the 76ers. From the 2012 blowout to welcome Andrew Bynum to a 2016 rally at the Art Museum after going 10-72 and getting the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft — a pick that turned out to be Ben Simmons — to the parade of big-name free agents and trade pieces who have come and gone since, this franchise has forever reveled in the shock and awe of a stunning acquisition.

    Its introduction of Jaylen Brown on Thursday — at a recreation center in Southwest Philadelphia, per Brown’s request — featured cheerleaders, neighborhood children, dozens of boosters, members of the organization, and music with a dance-party feel.

    Mike Gansey still has to ‘pinch myself a little bit’ after landing LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in stunning Sixers overhaul

    The affair had the Sixers’ customary pomp. Maybe this time, the circumstances are different. There’s actually reason to think they might be.

    The Sixers pulled out all the stops, including their mascot, Franklin, for the introductory press conference of Jaylen Brown on Thursday. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The trade for Brown and LeBron James’s decision to sign here give the Sixers more than just two outstanding players — one still in his prime, one still capable of being great, even at age 41. They now have two players who have shown they can handle, and even thrive amid, the highest of expectations and the heaviest of pressure. The most promising Sixers teams of the last 10 years tended to shrivel up in those situations. The 2019 team had a two-games-to-one lead on the Toronto Raptors, with Game 4 at home … and lost the game and, eventually, the series.

    The 2021 club also was up, 2-1, this time against an inferior team in the Atlanta Hawks, this time squandering an 18-point lead in Game 4 and a 26-point lead in Game 5 and losing Game 7 … at home. The 2023 club was up, 3-2, on Brown’s Boston Celtics and … well … you remember.

    Have Brown and James been in similar scenarios? Have they had opportunities to close out playoff series and failed? Of course. They also have five championships and 12 Finals appearances between them, and they’ve met the measure of those moments, too, more often than anyone else on the Sixers’ roster.

    A bonus of LeBron James joining the Sixers roster is the level of reserve both he and Jaylen Brown bring when it comes to aspirations of an NBA title.Mark J. Terrill

    Few players in NBA history had as much on the line as James did in the 2012 Eastern Conference finals, when his Miami Heat — one season after losing in the 2011 Finals to the Dallas Mavericks, James still without a championship ring at the time — were down, 3-2, to the Celtics and facing a Game 6 in Boston.

    He delivered perhaps the best performance of his career that night: 45 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists in a 98-79 Heat victory, then another 31 points and 12 boards in Miami’s Game 7 win.

    Jaylen Brown on joining Sixers: ‘Winning is the agenda’

    A comparable comeback against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 Finals, the Cavaliers’ charge back to beat the Golden State Warriors in 2016. These transcendent performances have to remain in James’ past and would be too much to ask of him now, but they at least dispel any ridiculous notions that any important game would be too much for him, even at his advanced age.

    LeBron James performance in 2012 and 2013 with the Miami Heat proves that, mentally, he can guide a young, talented Sixers team to handle the big moments.J Pat Carter

    He’ll be calm. He’ll be cool. It doesn’t mean the Sixers are assured of winning such games, only that no one is likely to see the same sad scenes that played out here with Simmons and James Harden. No one is likely to see a Sixers star choke.

    “James doesn’t need to work himself into a frenzy, into an angry, unnatural lather,” Adrian Wojnarowski, who covered that Heat-Celtics series for Yahoo! Sports, wrote after Game 6.

    “He’s too good, and his talent will carry him if he comes to these pressure games with something far more lasting, with far more staying power than responding to the hellacious firestorm that surrounds his successes and failures.

    Five takeaways from Jaylen Brown’s Sixers introduction, from his visceral trade reaction to his thoughts on the Celtics

    “His personality is different than a Kobe Bryant, a Michael Jordan, and allowing for that has been a wise plan of action. There was a rage within James for this Game 6, a resolve, but it was contained within the context of the surgical way in which he took apart the Celtics.”

    As for Brown, he’s spent a decade in a market as demanding as Philadelphia’s. He was the NBA Finals MVP in 2024. He has played 142 postseason games in his career and has won 58% of them. His playoff statistics are comparable to, if not better than, his regular-season stats.

    New Sixers forward Jaylen Brown arrives for his introductory press conference at the Francis Myers Recreation Center on Thursday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “At this point in my career, how I would handle pressure would probably look different,” Brown said. “At this point now, I would probably ignore a lot of it or let it just be water under the bridge. …

    “I played in Boston for the last 10 years. The pressure is high there. It’s Titletown. They expect to win every single year, and they’re always looking for someone to blame. Some of those years, it was me, so I’ve been through that. All I come with is my work ethic, my mentality, my impact on winning. That’s just my approach. Nothing else matters — just, how do we win games?”

    It’s why he and James are here. It’s the only thing anyone cares about anymore with this team. Too many premature celebrations in the past. So much cynicism for so many years. It’s long past time for the Sixers to prove to everyone that they’re made of stronger stuff.

    Does the LeBron James signing make the Sixers favorites to win the title? We asked our experts.
  • Mike Gansey still has to ‘pinch myself a little bit’ after landing LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in stunning Sixers overhaul

    Mike Gansey still has to ‘pinch myself a little bit’ after landing LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in stunning Sixers overhaul

    Jaylen Brown could not hold back the chuckle when asked about the 76ers’ offseason.

    “Um, I think they did a great job,” Brown said at his introductory news conference Thursday afternoon.

    Probably the correct response from Brown with Mike Gansey — the Sixers’ new president of basketball operations who traded for the All-NBA wing in a shocking blockbuster with the Boston Celtics last month — sitting in the front row alongside other front-office personnel and owner Josh Harris. It also is the overwhelming consensus, after the Sixers acquired Brown and then signed all-timer LeBron James to add to the core of All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey, former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, and explosive young guard VJ Edgecombe.

    Jaylen Brown insists ‘winning is the agenda’ as he joins star-studded Sixers

    Brown was quick to point out that the Sixers’ “excellent” on-paper roster does not guarantee they will fulfill their expectations to immediately compete for a championship. A few minutes later, Gansey echoed that sentiment while meeting with local media for the first time since his team landed James.

    But Gansey did concede that he “would have never thought our offseason would turn out like the way it [did].”

    “We’ve got to figure it out and gel,” Gansey added from Francis J. Myers Recreation Center. “But it definitely makes me pinch myself a little bit, like, ‘Man, we really have a lot of talent.’”

    It was difficult to fathom all of this when Gansey — who previously worked his way up to general manager in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office — was first introduced as the Sixers’ new lead executive at the team’s practice facility in early June.

    Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey (left), All-NBA star Jaylen Brown and owner Josh Harris pose for a photo during Brown’s introductory press conference.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The Sixers appeared locked into the max contracts of the aging and oft-injured Embiid and Paul George, with little maneuverability to make sweeping changes to the roster. And back then, it was unclear if James was even considering leaving the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, much less would consider signing a far-below-market veteran’s minimum contract with the Sixers.

    Yet Gansey on Thursday reiterated what he told The Inquirer last month at Las Vegas Summer League, that he and Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens talked for “days” (and kept quiet) about a potential deal to swap Brown for George and four draft picks. After that move popped July 1, Gansey believed the Sixers suddenly “had a chance to be in the mix” for James, who on July 24 announced his decision to come to Philly. The Sixers also recently signed veteran 3-and-D wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — a former James teammate with the Lakers — to add more championship experience to a franchise that has not advanced past the playoffs’ second round since 2001 or won a title since 1983.

    “Just having that presence,” Gansey said, “that everyday leadership that we’re going to have is going to be invaluable for everybody.”

    Gansey quipped the Sixers now “kind of have a Big 5” in their starting lineup, plus helpful bench contributors in defensive wing Dean Wade and sharpshooter Anfernee Simons. He compared coach Nick Nurse to “a kid in a candy store” while already thinking about the various lineup configurations. Though the Sixers technically still have one full-time roster spot open, unless they waive reserve forward Jabari Walker (whose contract is partially guaranteed at $250,000 until Jan. 10), they must wait until December to sign another player because they are hard-capped at the first apron. They do have one two-way contract slot remaining, after signing Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert to such deals.

    Throughout this week, Gansey said there were eight players working out at the Sixers’ facility — including a visibly slimmed-down Embiid, who Gansey described as “doing all the right things” and “super motivated.” James and Maxey, who are longtime offseason workout buddies, have been photographed training together in Los Angeles. Brown has been making the rounds in Philly, throwing out the first pitch at Thursday’s Phillies-Nationals game and visiting Eagles training camp Friday. Gansey said he is unsure when James will stop by Camden, though teams typically reconvene after Labor Day for informal pickup games before training camp begins in late September.

    For the Sixers, ego concerns are secondary to Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid’s fit on the court

    That is when the Sixers will begin blending a talented and revamped roster on the floor. But in the aftermath of the Sixers’ stunning offseason, Gansey is metaphorically pinching himself.

    “The vibes are high,” Gansey said. “Everyone’s excited. Once we get together, I’m excited to see what the journey’s going to look like.”

  • For the Sixers, ego concerns are secondary to Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid’s fit on the court

    For the Sixers, ego concerns are secondary to Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid’s fit on the court

    There are two sets of questions for these 76ers. Maybe it feels like that’s always been the case. Except that it hasn’t.

    The questions used to be: Will Joel Embiid be healthy? How often? To what extent? At what level of effectiveness? Nothing beyond these things mattered. Without Embiid, the Sixers weren’t a team you could even pretend to take seriously.

    Things aren’t what they used to be. With or without Embiid, the Sixers feel like they have a team that will have an identity. More than that, they feel like they have a team that will have a chance. If they didn’t make that clear when it traded for Jaylen Brown, they certainly did when they formally introduced him.

    Jaylen Brown vows to earn ‘trust and respect’ from the Sixers and his new basketball community

    The only things missing from Thursday’s press conference at Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in Southwest Philly were a marching band and a vice-presidential nominee. Upward of 100 people packed into the rows of plastic folding chairs that covered most of the width of the rec center’s indoor court and three-quarters of its length.

    In addition to the ownership group and most of the front office and Brown’s family and reporters from both Philly and Boston, there were cheerleaders and game day event staffers and security guards and a DJ and a gaggle of youth from the local community.

    New Sixer Jaylen Brown arrives for his introductory press conference at the Francis Myers Recreation Center on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    While it was Brown who keenly requested that the event be held at a local rec center, the proceedings were just as much a show of force from the Sixers that left little room for doubt about the gravity they expect their newly acquired superstar to impart on the organization.

    “What an event,” Sixers first-year president of basketball operations Mike Gansey said. “It’s a special, special day to be a 76er.”

    While it would be easy to sit here and wonder about Embiid’s thoughts on all of the hoopla surrounding Brown, the much more relevant question concerns their coexistence on the court. Feelings? Sure. Everyone has them. But they require political capital to matter. For much of his tenure, the Sixers adhered to a doctrine of appeasement. Several different front offices and coaching staffs operated as if they lived in fear of a trade demand. Now, the Sixers couldn’t trade Embiid if they wanted. Both sides are surely aware of that.

    Besides, we’ve seen and heard plenty to suggest that Embiid is at the very least receptive to having another superstar on board. On Thursday, Brown said that the Sixers center reached out to him shortly after the trade went down. The team has an active group chat. Yes, LeBron James is a part of it.

    “Me and Joel have been friends throughout the years,” Brown said. “I love soccer, so we talk about that a lot. He reached out, too, when I got traded. He reached out the same day. I talked to him on the phone. I’m looking forward to earning everybody’s trust and respect and grinding and impacting winning. That’s what I’ve done my whole career, and that’s what I plan on doing here.”

    That’s all that counts in the chemistry department, for the time being. Even if Brown and Embiid have some aspects of their personalities that make you wonder about the occasional friction, the decade of close quarters competition between the two has generally revealed a healthy mutual respect. The two players shared a long one-on-one moment near midcourt in the aftermath of the Sixers’ win over the Celtics in Game 7 of April’s first-round playoff series. The two most important personality traits in any professional relationship are to mean well and to want to win the task at hand. Both Brown and Embiid have those fundamentals. That’s enough for now.

    The success and failure of the Brown-Embiid partnership will be determined by how well it works on the court. That, in turn, will determine whether the Sixers have the potential to become a truly great team. Brown and Embiid are both the ceiling and the floor. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe both have the skill profile and willingness to adapt their roles to those around him. James did it even in his prime. Now, he is at an age where one generally accepts who he needs to be. The big question marks are Brown and Embiid.

    This isn’t a question of personality as much as it is a question of technical fit. There are a lot of parallels between Brown and Embiid, at least from a critical perspective. Shot selection, tunnel vision, decision-making, possession time, efficiency, pace in the half court, all have offered ample fodder for skeptics. Of the 20 players with a usage rate of at least 29% over the last eight seasons, only two have averaged fewer than four assists per game. You guessed it. Embiid and Brown.

    Whether or not these criticisms are prescient or fair, Brown and Embiid are clearly the two players who have the potential to clunk the operation up to a point of dysfunction. Don’t interpret that as a disservice to either. It’s just the style of their games. Whether the Sixers reach their ceiling will depend overwhelmingly on how well Brown and Embiid adapt their games to what optimizes the collective. Each has the ability to be the player they need to be. It is not a complicated thing. Drive when you have a lane. Shoot when you have a shot. Otherwise, keep the ball moving.

    “To win, you’ve got to be able to have sacrifice,” Brown said. “You’ve got to be able to have communication.”

    Five takeaways from Jaylen Brown’s Sixers introduction, from his visceral trade reaction to his thoughts on the Celtics

    The presence of James as a connector and secondary playmaker should help. So, too, should the presence of Maxey and Edgecombe, two of the more likable, earnest and adaptable young players in the game. But if we are going to assume that Embiid’s outlook is as promising as the reports suggest, the Sixers’ fate will ultimately be determined by his synergy with Brown.

    It’s a great question to have.

  • Jaylen Brown insists ‘winning is the agenda’ as he joins star-studded Sixers

    Jaylen Brown insists ‘winning is the agenda’ as he joins star-studded Sixers

    Jaylen Brown sat immersed in his new basketball community Thursday afternoon, ready to move forward.

    The All-NBA wing had stepped inside the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center’s gymnasium in Southwest Philly. An absence of air-conditioning in early August did not prevent kids wearing blue T-shirt jerseys — with Brown and the No. 7 on the back — from creating a human tunnel to welcome the 76ers’ star. Mike Gansey, the Sixers’ president of basketball operations, marveled at the scene, saying, “This is Jaylen Brown right there, man. … This is a special, special day to be a Seventy-Sixer.”

    It was Brown’s official introduction to Philly after last month’s blockbuster trade from the rival Boston Celtics, part of the Sixers’ stunning and swift roster revamp that also lured the legendary LeBron James and fortified the bench.

    Brown proclaimed that, “on paper,” these new-look Sixers boast “excellent” talent but cautioned that those names “don’t really mean nothing” when it comes to future on-court success. The 29-year-old also shrugged off a question about if there are enough touches to go around on a roster now full of high-usage stars, and acknowledged he is “not sure completely yet” what these Sixers will need most from him.

    Does the LeBron James signing make the Sixers favorites to win the title? We asked our experts.

    So his initial focus is on winning — and to “just be myself.”

    “That’s one thing that I can promise this city, the organization, and the coaching staff,” Brown said during his news conference, “that I’m going to come in every single day and be myself. Put my best foot forward. Lead with my integrity, lead with my mentality, and lead with my capacity and my will to win.

    “We’ll figure out the Xs and Os and the ins and outs. But winning is the agenda, so that’s the first thing that’s on my mind.”

    Inquiries are valid about where Brown envisions his fit on a roster that also features All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey, former NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, and second-year standout guard VJ Edgecombe.

    Brown is coming off the best individual season of his career, when he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists and finished sixth in MVP voting. Brown also publicly called it his “favorite season” on more than one occasion, because he was the unquestioned top offensive option while fellow superstar wing Jayson Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery and helped a Celtics team that many outsiders had written off finish second in the Eastern Conference’s regular-season standings.

    That will not be the case on these Sixers now expected to legitimately chase a title in a deep Eastern Conference headlined by the defending-champion New York Knicks. Sacrifice, transparency, and communication between those stars will be critical, Brown said Thursday.

    In turn, Brown vowed to earn the “trust and respect” of his new teammates. He is excited to learn from James, an all-time great and four-time champion. Those two premier newcomers are already in multiple group chats with the established Sixers, which Brown said are active “damn near every day.” Reserve forwards Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker were in attendance at Thursday’s news conference.

    “I don’t care about the MVP award or the Finals MVP,” Brown said. “None of that stuff really moves me. It’s nice, but the only thing that’s going to move me is doing something collectively, so a championship.

    “That’s what I’m looking forward to, trying to start that journey and building toward [it].”

    Five takeaways from Jaylen Brown’s Sixers introduction, from his visceral trade reaction to his thoughts on the Celtics

    Brown reflected fondly on his 10 seasons in Boston, where he spent one-third of his life and became a five-time All-Star and Finals MVP. He declined to fully rehash his messy and public departure — when his game and personality were heavily scrutinized by professional and social-media pundits — though acknowledged he is still processing “to some degree” the emotions of such a jarring professional and personal change.

    “It’s been a crazy transition,” Brown said. “ … It has been a lot.”

    But now Brown has officially begun immersing himself in his new basketball community. After his afternoon rec center visit, he headed to Citizens Bank Park to throw out the first pitch of the Phillies-Nationals game. Sixers training camp begins in less than eight weeks.

    Sixers forward Jaylen Brown throws the ceremonial first pitch before the Phillies played the Washington Nationals on Thursday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    He sees the same impressive roster that has vaulted his new team into contender status. He also recognizes that a list of names and past individual accomplishments are not guaranteed to translate to the court.

    So he will start his Sixers tenure by prioritizing winning, and being himself.

    “Obviously, on paper, we look great,” Brown said. “But let’s all slow down. It takes real work every single day in order to make something like this happen. …

    “I’m looking forward to doing whatever it is I need to do, whoever I need to talk to, to make sure that we’re on the same page and everybody’s focused on the same thing. If we do that, then we’ll be where we want to be.”

  • Five takeaways from Jaylen Brown’s Sixers introduction, from his visceral trade reaction to his thoughts on the Celtics

    Five takeaways from Jaylen Brown’s Sixers introduction, from his visceral trade reaction to his thoughts on the Celtics

    Jaylen Brown was officially introduced as a member of the 76ers on Thursday during a news conference at Francis Myers Recreation Center in Southwest Philadelphia.

    Brown discussed his reaction to the trade, his thoughts on some his teammates, and more. Here are some quick highlights …

    Trade reaction and Sixers group chats

    The Sixers trading for Brown was one of the biggest shocks of a shocking NBA offseason, and one of the most unexpected trades in recent NBA history. It wasn’t just shocking for the fans. Even Brown was taken aback by the move.

    “When I first got traded, I just threw my phone across the room,” Brown said when asked which new teammate reached out first. “But who was first? It might’ve been Max, I think [Tyrese] Maxey reached out to me first. He reached out and was like, ‘I know it’s a lot of stuff going on right now, but we’re excited to have you.’ Maxey and VJ [Edgecombe] were probably around the same time.”

    Does the LeBron James signing make the Sixers favorites to win the title? We asked our experts.

    Since those first texts, Brown has been in regular contact with his Sixers teammates, including LeBron James.

    “We talk damn near every day. We’ve got group chats — multiple now — and we’re all trying to figure this thing out. LeBron, he’s active in the group chats. We’re trying to all get on the same page. I think everybody knows how incredible of an opportunity that we have, but we also have to put in the work.”

    New Sixer Jaylen Brown speaks during his introductory press conference on Thursday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Silent respect for Tatum

    On the Celtics side, Brown said he has “not really” spoken to longtime former teammate Jayson Tatum since the trade.

    “We won a championship together,” Brown said. “Anybody that you win a championship [with], you would think that’s what a brotherhood or a lifelong legacy would entail. Obviously, there’s ups and downs in any type of relationship, for sure, but on my end, it’s nothing but respect. Besides when he plays the Sixers, I hope he does well, but other than that everything for me is just based in respect.”

    Despite saying on his Twitch stream that he’d been “packed up” by Boston, Brown said he was ready to move forward after the trade.

    “I look back at Boston and I’m grateful,” Brown said. “A lot of my most developmental years were in Boston. The relationships are still there, so are the connections. I’m very grateful for my 10 years in Boston. I have nothing but respect for Boston, but it’s time to move forward.”

    Jaylen Brown wears Sixers jersey on Twitch stream, says he wants to ‘win more than anything’

    Great Expectations

    The Sixers had a massive offseason under new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey and are suddenly among the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, but Brown isn’t looking that far down the road.

    “On paper, we’re excellent … On paper, it doesn’t really mean nothing … We look great, but let’s all slow down,” Brown said. “It takes real work every single day in order to make something like this happen. We do that, we’ll be where we want to be.”

    He also isn’t concerned about what role he needs to play to get there.

    “My focus is winning, whatever it takes,” Brown added. “At this point in my career, nothing else matters. I don’t care about the awards, the only thing that moves me is a championship.”

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe defends Brown during Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Celtics back in April.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Already ‘a fan’ of VJ Edgecombe

    As for his off-court role, Brown said he didn’t necessarily see himself as a mentor, but shared that he picked up a lot from the veterans in his early years in Boston and hopes he can provide the same for Edgecombe.

    “I think VJ’s in a similar situation that I was a few years ago, when we had some of those rosters that were stacked with a decent amount of talent. I looked at it as a learning opportunity,” he said. “Some of those moments that I learned from back then, with the players I played with, some of that stuff I benefited from later in my career, because I took the time to learn, and talk to, and watch their workouts and see their mentality and their approach, take things they do well and add it to my game.

    “I’ll be in VJ’s ear to help him learn and grow. He’s 21, just turned 21, he’s got a bright future, and this will be great opportunity for him to learn from a bunch of guys. His talent level, he’s going to carve out space for himself because of his talent level alone, so I’m excited for VJ. I’m a fan. He killed us in that series. The other guys, we knew about, but he was a difference-maker in that series. I’m a fan from afar for sure.”

    Five things every Sixers player can learn from LeBron James

    The location matters

    There was a reason Brown hosted his introductory news conference at the Francis Myers Rec Center instead of the Sixers’ practice facility in Camden. Local kids were on-site wearing new Sixers shirseys with Brown’s No. 7 on them.

    Brown explained why he wanted his first appearance as a Sixers to be out in the community.

    “My family and I, we are rooted in the community. That’s where we hang our hat, is being able to affect other people’s lives. We’re very blessed, we’ve been able to help our own family and been able to change the course of what our generation and our family name can possibly do, but we look forward to being able to impact others and being able to touch families and households that we may never get to see.

    “As I’m still getting to learn this community, I just wanted to make it clear that this was an important pillar in my life, community and the foundation. As I’m getting started on the journey here in Philadelphia, the introduction, the first impression is everything. I just wanted to let people know in Philadelphia that this is something that’s important to me.”